iNOS > An enzyme catalysing the production of nitric oxide, induced by cytokines.COX > Cyclooxygenase, a family of enzymes involved in the formation of prostaglandins.

So let’s take a look at some B vitamins.

B1 Thiamine (or Benfotiamine)

Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble analogue of and B1. Uveitis is degeneration of the eye, which can be caused by endotoxin. In rodents subjected to an injection of endotoxin which would induce uveitis, dosing with benfotiamine significantly ameliorated the damage. Measures were taken of inflammatory cytokines, and the increase induced by endotoxin was minimised by dosing with benfotiamine. Benfotiamine also buffered the increase in iNOS ( inducible nitric oxide synthase) and COX-2, as well as the activation of NFKB, which increases inflammatory cytokines. The authors suggest that the inhibition of activation of NFKB leading to a decrease in oxidative stress induced inflammatory markers may be a main factor in the prevention of uveitis.

In endotoxin treated rodents riboflavin lowers pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNFa, Il-6 and IL-1, while decreasing nitric oxide levels. Some of the experiment in this paper show that riboflavin can increase survival rates from endotoxin induced sepsis in a dose-dependent manner. In one experiment runs were first dosed with E. coli bacteria, which is Gram-negative endotoxin producing bacteria, then dosed with vitamin B2 one hour later. Six hours later all of the 30 rodents in the control group died. Rodents dosed with 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg per kilogram showed survival rates of 20%, 30%, 55%, and 70% respectively, versus zero for the control group.

Riboflavin has a prebiotic effect which feeds some bacteria and alters the balance of gut microbiota when using high doses. It increases a number of different commensal bacteria including F. prausnitzii. This is one of the most abundant bacteria found in the human digestive system, it is known to have multiple anti-inflammatory properties, to bolster gut barrier function and it is known to be low in inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn’s disease. An inverse relationship is seen with this bacteria and the E. coli bacteria associated with Crohn’s.

Riboflavin significantly increases survival rates from endotoxin. A combination of riboflavin and the amino acid with valine increased survival rates further indicating a possible line of treatment for sepsis.

Niacinamide inhibits the increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNFα in a dose-dependent manner in human blood samples. This paper suggests the findings demonstrate niacinamide may have great potential for treating inflammatory diseases.Nicotinamide is a potent inhibitor of proinflammatory cytokines